US Credit Card Market Share: 2026 Data

If you’re an American aged between 30 and 49, there’s an 83% chance you have at least one credit card. If you’re categorized as an average US consumer, the data indicates that you probably have four.

According to the Federal Reserve, American consumers' collective revolving credit debt totaled $1.35 trillion by the end of 2025, once again reaching record highs. The credit card business is huge in the United States, but only a handful of companies hold the largest part of the market share.

Credit card transactions accounted for more than a third (32%) of all card payments in 2025 by number. Additionally, some 49% of all payments were conducted via debit cards, showcasing a continued preference for immediate settlement.

Credit Card Market Share by Network

The US credit card market is dominated by four giants: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. However, it’s important to note that the four competitors are by no means equal.

While Visa and Mastercard are distinguished by a notable advantage in terms of global acceptance, American Express and Discover are well-known as payment facilitators that don't need a middleman as they issue cards directly to consumers.

These four companies combined account for nearly all US general-purpose credit cards. The total purchase volume and transaction value of Visa and Mastercard alone reached $9.986 trillion in 2025 in the US.

Visa

Out of the four major US credit card companies, Visa is the largest.

At the end of 2025, this network’s US purchase volume reached $7.028 trillion, or 70.38% of the market share for all credit and debit products combined.

There are now more than 1.3 billion Visa credit cards in circulation worldwide, accounting for more than 37% of all credit cards. The average card transaction on a Visa card now stands at $93.

Mastercard

Mastercard is the second-largest US credit card network.

Its US purchase volume for credit, debit, and prepaid products was $2.958 trillion in the fiscal year 2025, while the total worldwide volume across its network remained a primary driver of its $8.8 billion in Q4 2025 revenue.

As of December 31, 2025, there were more than 3.7 billion Mastercard and Maestro-branded cards in circulation worldwide.

In the United States, Mastercard holds significant market share when it comes to all credit cards in circulation. The average credit card transaction stands at around $96.

American Express

As one of the top competitors in the credit card industry, American Express has also seen constant growth. In 2025, American Express reported record revenues, with quarterly revenue peaking at $18.4 billion in late 2025.

Globally, the transaction value was forecast to reach $1.8 trillion by 2026, and the issuer maintains a robust premium market position.

American Express also saw significant growth in revolving loan balances in 2025, which puts it in a strong position for interest income.

There are more than 127.6 million basic American Express cards in force worldwide, with approximately 67 million active cardholders in the US in 2025.

The average value of transaction was at $155 in 2025, easily the highest of all credit card issuers.

Discover

Discover is also among the largest credit card providers in the US.

In 2025, this network held a 5.9% share of U.S. credit card purchase volumes, which totaled $5.4 trillion for the year.

The worldwide transaction value processed by the Discover Global Network reached $500 billion in 2025, reflecting a 7% increase from the previous year.

There are now more than 75 million merchants worldwide that accept Discover.

The average monthly spend for a Discover cardholder is $1,320, while the average transaction value has trended upward to approximately $62, though it remains lower than its competitors.